A/N: When did it get to be the Christmas season again? Did someone order up a slice of Naomily to go with their eggnog?
First, my apologies for the almost year in between updates, that was never my intention, but the closer it got to December I figured, fuck it! I'll update for Christmas! And here it is!
Giant huge shout out to mswitsend (This is becoming a habit, mate ;) but I figured you don't mind, right?) without who, some of this chapter would not have been possible...so you should all pop on over, reread her story Stonem House, and send her a PM or review and tell her how fucking fabulous she is!
Alright! On with the show;)
Disclaimer: Nope...
Chapter 8: You Have To See It To Believe It
February 27, 2015
Emily opened her eyes and stretched, as sunlight filtered through the windows along with the scent of the ocean. She smiled and looked at the sleeping figure next to her. Emily had been surprised to find out that Naomi had a house in the Bahamas, and that's where she would spend her time off after Christmas.
Naomi Campbell-Fitch, her wife. It had been a little over two months since she married Naomi, and she couldn't be any happier. Emily scooted a little closer to the blonde, as Naomi's breathing stayed even and a light snore could be heard, content with her thoughts as she waited for her wife to wake up.
"You're thinking too loud." Naomi mumbled into her pillow, causing Emily to jump more than a bit.
"You scared the shit out of me, Naoms!"
Naomi rolled over and reached her arm around the red head, pulling her close, then started placing kisses along the back of Emily's neck. "What are you doing up so early?"
Emily sighed, as a warm feeling settled in the pit of her stomach, from Naomi's lips touching her. "Thinking."
"You haven't changed your mind, have you?" Naomi asked quietly, the fear of Emily realising she made a mistake ripping through her.
Emily quickly rolled over and placed her body on top of Naomi's, so she could look into the blue eyes that she loved. "Never." she said before leaning down to touch Naomi's lips with her own.
"So what's on your mind, babes." Naomi asked again when Emily pulled away, pulling her back down to lay beside her.
"I was just thinking how happy I've been, that's all. Nothing major." Emily assured her. "I was also wondering if we could stay here until May."
Naomi shifted to see if Emily was serious. "But I thought you wanted to go back to Bristol."
"I know, but...,"
"Come on, Ems, it won't be that bad." Naomi tried to take away the sound of fear in Emily's voice.
"You don't know my mother, Naoms. She won't be nice, she won't be accepting, she hates that I'm gay, she-,"
"She's your mum." Naomi kissed her gently. "I'll make it okay."
Emily rolled her eyes and scoffed. "What are you gonna do, sprinkle magic dust on her?"
Naomi smirked at her. "Now there's something I hadn't thought of before." Emily couldn't help the laugh that escaped. "Look, Ems, I promised you I'd meet your parents and James, and Katie has gone to all this trouble to arrange it, so...,"
Emily sighed again. "I know, you're right. But it doesn't stop me from wanting to keep you here forever, doing very dirty things to your body." She replied, looking over her wife with the sexiest look on her face.
Naomi almost relented, but knew she couldn't. She had to be firm with Emily. It was the one thing she'd had to learn about the red head in the last couple of months. Emily usually got what she wanted, because Naomi just didn't seem to know how to say no to her.
She also didn't seem to know how to say no to Katie either.
Katie had called them two weeks ago, informing them that they were to be in Bristol by the end of the month. The older twin pleaded with Naomi, telling her how she hadn't seen her sister in awhile, and they had never gone this long apart before. If it hadn't been for the sincerity in Katie's voice, Naomi would've blown her off.
"C'mon, Ems. It'll be fine, yeah?" Naomi said, placing a kiss along Emily's neck, making her hum in delight.
"Fine, but just remember...you asked for it." As the red head got out of bed and walked to the bathroom to get a shower.
Naomi laughed at her as she watched her wife shut the door. She laid there for another couple of minutes before getting out of bed herself, following Emily into the shower.
"Explain to me again why we're flying?" Emily leant over to whisper into Naomi's ear, causing the blonde to shiver, as they stood in the queue after they debarked the plane at General Edward Lawrence Logan International in Boston, where they would catch a flight over to Dublin, and then hop a flight over to Bristol.
Naomi shook the mental image of hauling Emily into the loo and having her way with her from her head, as she focused back into what Emily was asking. "Because how else are we supposed to get there, Ems?" She replied with a question of her own, chuckling as Emily rolled her eyes up at her.
"You know very well what I mean, Naomi." Emily gave the blonde her best teacher-face, the one she used on unruly schoolchildren, not missing the desire that flashed into those ice blue eyes. "For fucks sake, Naoms! Could you not look at me like that?" She hissed out low, knowing Naomi would hear it.
Naomi smiled down at her wife, then leant closer to her. "Because travelling this way keeps me grounded in reality. I've never abused my Santa powers, and although travelling in the blink of an eye is relatively easier, it means you don't get to experience real life."
Emily was about to say something witty, when a little boy and girl ran over to them, smiling up at Naomi, and her words dried up as she smiled at her wife and the children. This was something that happened repeatedly since they left the North Pole. Emily wondered if she would ever get tired of watching this happen?
"Hello." Naomi said with a smile.
"Hi." The little girl replied shyly, hiding a bit behind the little boy.
"I'm Zach and this is my little sister, Celina." Zach stated proudly in his American accent, as he continued to stare up at Naomi.
"Is that so?" She asked, amusement lacing her voice, and she flicked a glance at Emily. "Well, Zach...what can I do for you and Celina?"
Celina smiled at Naomi, a bright smile that melted Naomi's heart. "Mommy mailed your letters, but she sended them to the North Pole." Celina said, tears suddenly filling her eyes.
"What's the matter, pet?" Emily asked, crouching down in front of the little girl.
"How's Santa posed to get his letters if he's not home?" Celina asked, fearful that Santa would never get her letter, the one she painstakingly wrote, because she was just learning to write, or the little token she had slipped into the envelope just before Zach sealed it shut.
Emily felt her heart clench at the sight of the girls' tears. She wrapped her up in hug, trying to comfort her.
"Celina, quit being a baby! You're four now." Zach said, rolling his eyes.
"Be nice Zach." Naomi admonished gently, causing the boy to blush.
Emily pulled away from Celina. "What if I told you that Santa will get your letter when we get home? Would that make you feel better?"
"You pwomise?" Celina asked, getting a yes from Emily, before smiling again. "Who are you?" The girl asked as an after thought.
Naomi chuckled as she too crouched down. "This is Mrs Claus." Naomi stated proudly, leaning down to give Emily a peck on the lips.
Nearly all the kids running close by, stopped and stared in awe along with Zach and Celina. It never failed to amaze Emily, the effect Naomi had on children. During the Christmas season, everyone who believed in Santa only saw the Kris Kringle version, while people who didn't believe saw Naomi. It was almost the same when Naomi had her four months off, meaning adults, whether they believed or not, saw Naomi but children always saw Santa Claus. So, just like in Nassau, Naomi had a crowd of kids around her, and Emily found her heart beating faster every time she saw it.
"Zach? Celina?" Emily heard the frantic voice over the other people in the airport.
"I think your mum is calling for you...," Emily said as she cocked her head to the side, listening, "did you two run off and not tell her where you were going?" Zach's face told her the truth, as the little boy ducked his head. Emily looked up to Naomi and smiled. "Babe, would you mind? Their mum is two terminals away."
Naomi nodded, knowing exactly what was asked of her, and stood up to search for the woman. Emily waited with the children, making sure that they stayed put.
Emily heard the scared mother because when she said "I do" to Naomi, she developed a heightened sense of hearing and a stronger sense of empathy. So it wasn't hard to pinpoint the terrified mother of these two children.
"Are you really Mrs Claus?" Zach asked.
Emily noticed the other children closing around them as she smiled. "Yes." She was well aware that the children saw an older woman when they looked at her.
"You kinda look like my gramma." Celina mused as she looked up at Emily. "Are you mean like my gramma?"
"Celina, gramma's not mean, she's just cranky!" Zach replied, making Emily laugh. "Well, that's what my mom says."
"I'm sure your grandmother is lovely. You should both be a bit kinder to her though." Emily admonished gently, as she caught sight of Naomi weaving her way through the crowd of people followed by a harried looking young woman.
"Oh my god!" The woman stated as she saw her children. "I thought someone took you guys!" Emily watched as the young mother cried tears of relief, hugging her children. "Thank you both, so much." She glanced up at Naomi and Emily. "What were you two doing over here?" She asked her kids, desperately.
"We wanted to talk to Santa!" Zach stated and Emily watched the woman roll her eyes.
"Yes Zach, because Santa is gonna be stuck in security at the airport! When we get home, you're going straight to bed!" She told the boy as she drug them off, while Celina looked back at them with a smile and a wave.
Once the family disappeared out of sight, Emily chuckled. "Well, that was fun. You know, you could save children from getting into trouble, and all it would take would be one tiny thought."
Naomi smiled at her wife, then draped her arm around Emily's shoulder and led her to the terminal they needed to be at.
"Grounded in reality, babe." She stated simply.
"OH MY GOD! EMSY!"
Emily's head snapped up at the sound of her name being called across the waiting lounge. She turned an eye to Naomi, before smirking at her.
"What?" Naomi asked.
"Just remember, you asked for it. And you promised to love me till death do us part." Emily replied with a smile.
Naomi was confused. "Okay." She drew out the word, because she didn't understand what Emily was talking about, until a ball of energy whizzed past her and tackled Emily to the ground.
Naomi stared, wide-eyed, at the two people rolling around, until she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Fucks sake, James! Get off of her!" Katie's lisp ringing loud and clear through the terminal, as she reached out to hug Naomi.
"What? I'm just happy to see her, that's all."
Emily stood up with James' help, face flushed, as she brushed the dust off her clothes. "I missed you too, you pervy twat." She said as she hugged him. "Naoms, this is my baby brother, James." She informed Naomi.
"Whoa! You're well fit!" James was eyeing Naomi up and down. "You've got excellent taste in birds, Emsy."
Naomi watched in awed silence as both Emily and Katie swatted the young boy upside the head.
"Watch how you talk about my wife, perv!" Emily warned him, as she stepped closer to the blonde, wrapping her arm around Naomi's waist.
James laughed in glee at the thought of his sister married. "Finally found someone to tame your wild ways, hey Emsy? It's a pleasure to meet you." He smiled adoringly at Emily as she blushed, Katie and Naomi snickering beside her. "Mum's gonna flip. This is gonna be bloody brilliant!"
"Jamie, please don't make this any harder than it's already going to be. Please?" Emily pleaded with him.
"Don't worry, Ems...I've got your back, yeah?" James stated gently. "C'mon, let's go get your bags, shall we? We'll stop for a bite to eat on the way home."
Naomi found herself charmed by the younger Fitch. He displayed all the characteristics of both his sisters, making him brash and ballsy, yet sweet and thoughtful all at the same time. It was a very interesting mix, and Naomi couldn't help but be reminded of Cook as she talked with James, or Jamie, as he preferred to be called.
Naomi followed the Fitch siblings out of the airport and as they stood at the kerb, Emily heard four children chattering away and she smiled before turning to Naomi.
"Babes?"
Naomi had been talking quietly with Katie and at the sound of Emily's voice her head snapped up. "Yeah?"
"Incoming." Emily replied softly, gesturing with her head, causing Naomi to look over her shoulder. She smiled as she watched her blonde slowly make her way over to where the children, three girls and one boy, were standing.
James watched as Naomi talked with the children. "What's going on over there?" he asked, curious about the blonde.
"Naomi's quite famous, Jamie." Katie informed him, smiling at Emily. She knew Emily wanted to tell their parents and James about Naomi, but she wanted to do it all at once.
James scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, right. Look, if you didn't wanna tell me, just say that." He said, with a cheeky smile. "I'm gonna go get the car. I'll be back." He said as Emily and Katie watched him walk away, before turning to smile at each other.
They had settled into a small café after leaving the airport, where James peppered Naomi with all kinds of easy questions, until he had casually asked what she did for a living.
"Jamie, can you stop pestering my wife, please?" Emily sighed. She really didn't want to say anything just yet, because it was going to be hard enough as it was to explain, let alone having to do it more than once. "Just...eat your food."
He looked a bit hurt. "Sorry, Emsy...I was just making small talk."
Katie shook her head at her sister and brother. "Emsy, be nice...Jamie, don't be such a nosy twat, yeah?"
Naomi watched as Emily apologised to her brother, and Jamie smiled as he took a bite of his burger.
"It's alright, sis," he smiled cheekily, making the girls laugh, "if your wife wants to keep her super secret job to herself, that's fine by me."
The laughter died down, as Emily and Katie squirmed in their seats at Jamie's words.
"What?" Jamie noticed the sudden change in their mood and instantly wondered the reason why when a thought popped into his head. "Naomi, do you work as a spy for MI-6?" He asked, lowering his voice to a whisper.
"What?" Emily couldn't believe he would think that. "Why would you even ask that?"
"I dunno." He shrugged sheepishly. "It's just, you all went silent, so it's either that or...,"
Katie, Emily and Naomi waited a few moments, as James trailed off.
"Or what?" Katie finally asked.
"Or...she doesn't have a job at all and you're not sure how you're going to explain that to mum." He smiled cheekily.
"For your information, Jamie, I do have a job." Naomi smiled at him.
"Yeah? What do you do?" He asked again.
"I make toys." The blonde stated simply, causing James to scoff in disbelief.
"Fine, fine...I get it. You don't wanna tell me and that's okay...but mum is gonna have a field day with this." He said gleefully, rubbing his hands together, like an evil genius.
"Speaking of mum," Katie felt the need to stop James from freaking Naomi out, "I've only given her a few details to go along with what you've told her."
Naomi looked around the table, feeling the need to get on with things, and noticed that none of the siblings looked at all ready to go. "How about we go? I'm really looking forward to meeting your parents."
All three Fitch siblings scoffed at her and started laughing as one.
"You're sweet, babes, but you're a terrible liar." Emily said leaning over to give her a kiss. "No one looks forward to meeting Jenna and Rob Fitch. But you're right, the sooner we do this, the sooner we can get it over with."
The four of them made their way across the city of Bristol, with James chattering away, Katie filling in the gaps and Emily growing increasingly quiet.
"What's wrong, babe?" Naomi asked her, as they turned down another street.
"I want her to like you." Emily told her, a hint of sadness in her voice.
"Trust me, Ems. It'll be fine." Naomi said as she kissed the top of Emily's head. "Just let me meet her and then we'll see what happens."
The car pulled up outside a two-level house and Naomi took in her surroundings. It was a nice neighbourhood and a nice house, one that Naomi remembered well.
"Are you ready for this?" Katie asked her, as James took their bags up the walkway, leaving the three girls alone. "Don't worry, Nai. Emily and I have got your back, yeah?"
Naomi gulped and swallowed hard, her nerves just hitting her. "Yeah...I'm good...it'll be fine, right?"
"Of course it will be, Naoms." Emily was the one reassuring her now, as they walked up the path to the house.
They were just about to reach the door when it was flung open and a tall man came rushing out.
"Emsy!" He roared out as he wrapped his arms around the red head. "I've missed you, love."
"I've missed you too, Dad." Emily replied blushing, as Rob eyed up Naomi, noticing something familiar about her. "Naoms, this is my dad, Rob. Dad, I want you to meet Naomi...my wife."
Rob was smiling widely during the introductions until Emily's words filtered past that part of his brain that was appreciating how beautiful the blonde was.
"Your...but...how...," the eldest Fitch couldn't seem to form a sentence, as he continued to splutter out words, "your what?"
Emily sighed loudly, as they stood outside in the cold. "Look, Dad, I only want to explain this once, so do you think maybe we could...," she gestured toward the house, "finish this inside?"
"Oh, right! Sorry, love." He led them inside, taking their coats once they entered the foyer, and then ushered them into the lounge. "Jenna, Emsy's home!" He called out.
"Thanks, Dad." Emily gestured to a sofa, indicating to Naomi to take a seat, as Jenna Fitch stepped into the room.
"Hello, Emily."
Naomi could swear she felt the temperature in the room drop at least ten degrees.
"Hello, Mum." Emily replied back just as coldly, earning a look from Naomi. She sighed and stood up to give her mum a hug.
Jenna was taken aback at the unexpected move and it showed on her face as she wrapped her arms around Emily in an awkward embrace. She suddenly felt sad that there was this immense rift between them as Emily pulled away from her.
"It's been awhile since you've been home, since before Christmas." Jenna stated softly, feeling the sudden need to try and fix their relationship. "The last time we spoke was last month on the phone."
Emily had taken a seat next to Naomi, and looked sheepishly at her parents. To say she nervous was an understatement. "Well, Mum...a lot has happened since then." She shot a look at Naomi, and seeing the smile on her face gave Emily the courage to keep going. "Mum, I'd like you to meet Naomi...my wife."
"Excuse me? Your...wife?" Jenna's icy gaze flicked over to the blonde as she sat straight, resisting the urge to squirm in her seat.
"Hello, Mrs Fitch. I've heard so much about you." Naomi reached her hand out and felt those nerves kick back in as Jenna stared at it as if she'd catch a disease, until finally she shook it.
That quick shake gave Naomi all she needed to win over Jenna, as she smiled at the older woman.
"Hello. I'm sorry to say I haven't really heard anything about you." Jenna replied, giving Emily a look.
"Well, we've been pretty busy," Naomi said with her smile still in place, "I was really swamped with work at Christmas," Katie snorted a laugh, causing Emily to elbow her in the ribs, but Naomi just smiled at her, "and then we've been on a holiday/honeymoon since."
"What kind of job allows you to have a two month holiday?" Jenna asked suspiciously.
"It sounds like the best kind, love." Rob smiled, doing his best to help out.
"Actually, sir, I normally get a four month holiday, but since Katie wanted Emily to come home for a visit, we cut it a bit short." Naomi explained.
"Well, that was...nice of you to do, Naomi." Jenna replied, watching how both of her daughters acted around the young woman. "How about we sit down for tea?"
Jenna ushered everyone into the dining room, and placed everyone around the six-seater table. She arranged everyone, and was sorely tempted to keep Emily and the blonde on opposite sides of the table, but she knew that would be pushing it too far, so she put Emily and Naomi on one side and Katie and Jamie on the other, with her and Rob taking the ends. Once she had everything served, the rest of the family set about making small talk, but she couldn't bring herself to pretend, so she stayed silent. Once everyone was done eating, Rob took it upon himself to find out more about his daughter-in-law.
"So, Naomi, what is it you do for a living?" Rob asked her, wanting to know about the woman who was now responsible for his baby girl.
"That's an interesting question, Dad." Jamie said, looking at his sister with a grin on his face. "They wouldn't tell me earlier."
"It's actually really interesting, Jamie." Katie spoke up from her side of the table, sending Emily and Naomi a smile.
Jenna sensed a hesitation from her daughter, so she took the opportunity to dig a bit. "But, you do have a job, right?" Jenna asked, feigning interest.
"I sure do, Mrs Fitch." Naomi smiled at her brightly. She knew perfectly well what Emily's mum was trying to do, and as she glanced at her wife, she knew that Emily knew it as well. But she wasn't above having a bit of fun and really making Jenna earn it. "It's a really good one too. I make toys." She replied with a smirk, making Katie and Emily giggle, as she gave her standby answer.
Jenna felt like Naomi was messing with her. It made her wonder what Emily had told the blonde about her. She glanced up at Rob to see if he noticed something odd about the girl, but he was staring at her as if she was a puzzle he couldn't figure out.
"Rob?" Jenna questioned him, raising an eyebrow, as he finally looked at her.
"What?" Rob smiled at his wife. "Did you say something, love?"
"Dad, you're staring at Naomi." Jamie leant over to tell him, smirking as he caught the blush on his dad's face.
"Oh...well...it's not...," Rob couldn't help stuttering, "it's just that she looks oddly familiar, that's all." He turned toward Naomi with a sheepish smile. "Sorry 'bout that, dear, but did your mum go to Uni in London?"
Emily gasped at the question, while Katie giggled, but Naomi only smiled at him. Jenna and Jamie exchanged a look of confusion, before turning back to the others, interested in what was going on.
"No she didn't, sir. Mum was a total hippie, you know? Bucking against tradition and all." Naomi replied with a smirk.
"Please, call me Rob. You look just like a girl I vaguely knew when I was a young lad." He stated, trying to shake of the odd feeling. "It was the strangest thing really."
"What was, dad?" Jamie asked.
"The girl disappeared in the middle of the year. She hung around one of my classmates, and another lad, but they all disappeared one year on Christmas Eve...," Rob trailed off as he just now remembered that night.
Emily glanced at Naomi, a concerned look on her face. 'Is he talking about you, Freddie and Cook?' she asked silently. Naomi gave her a slight nod in affirmation, as they turned their attention back to Rob.
"What happened, dad?" Katie asked, intrigued by the story.
"Katie, why don't we leave your father alone." Jenna admonished gently, seeing a sense of sadness settle on her husbands face. "It looks like it might be a bit painful for him."
"Aye, love, it is. Cook was a good mate." Rob stated as he turned his attention back to his food.
Naomi and Emily shared a knowing look with Katie
"Actually, Rob, I think I can shed some light on that." Everyone turned to look at Naomi as she spoke up. "Well...it's kinda interesting, really...," she trailed off, suddenly afraid of fucking things up, but when Emily reached over, grabbed her hand and laced their fingers together, she knew it was time.
"How could you possibly know anything about it?" Jenna scoffed, she almost couldn't help herself, but felt everyone's eyes turn to her and noticed the two glares from her daughters. "I just mean...well she wasn't even there."
"Actually, Mrs Fitch, I was there."
Jenna and Rob both looked at Naomi like she was crazy. And for a few minutes it seemed like the Fitches were going to personally escort the blonde out of the house and straight to the mental ward, until Rob cracked a smile.
"Aye...good one, lass." He replied with a smile, and that's when Naomi realised that he thought she was joking. "Trying to lighten the mood, well done."
"Um, Dad? She's telling the truth." Emily interjected.
"Emily, that's just not possible, dear." Jenna said in a huff, as she scooted away from the table and started gathering dishes.
"But it is possible, Mrs Fitch." Naomi stressed, as she looked back at Rob. "It was Christmas Eve, 1984. Me, Cook and Freddie had been going from pub to pub...I was trying my hardest to drown out the fact that it was Christmas, and actually, I should have taken the train home earlier that day, but I didn't wanna face my mum.
We had run into you and the girl you were dating...Sylvia something, and we had a few pints with you. You invited us back to your flat for a get together, but Cook told you he had to keep me moving." Naomi stated, as if it had happened yesterday. She didn't miss the look of disbelief on Rob's face or the look of hostility on Jenna's. "I know it's really hard to believe, but it's true and if you wanna hear it, there's an explanation."
Jenna took this moment to start really looking for the flaws in the young woman. This young woman who, it seemed, had married her daughter without hardly any family present. Not that Jenna would have attended such a wedding in the first place, but that wasn't the point. This young woman, who was sitting there, making up lies and telling them right to their faces.
She couldn't understand how Emily could find someone so...so...devious. So cruel! Not for the first time, Jenna had wished that this had all been a phase for Emily. This insistence that she was a...lesbian.
"I'd like to hear how a young girl, such as yourself, could possibly know anything about my husband." Jenna stated with a sneer as she came back to the table.
"Mum." Emily was afraid her mother was going to revert back to type, and start pointing out that she should have settled down with a nice young man. "Please?"
"What, Emily? I'm merely inquiring how she could know any of that?" Jenna said, fake sweetness dripping off her tongue.
"Mum, you promised you'd be on your best behaviour today." Katie pleaded with the older Fitch. "This is starting to feel like an interrogation."
Naomi squeezed Emily's hand gently, and smiled at Katie, knowing that they really did have her back. "It's alright, guys. You know it's hard to believe. Hell, Ems here had a hell of a time with it at first." She said to Jenna.
Jenna grimaced at the overly familiar nickname. "I'm sure she did, but you have to admit that it's a bit farfetched, don't you think?"
Naomi took her words to heart and tried her best to come up with a way to tell them the truth without the family Fitch freaking out. "Yeah..it is, Jenna. I can call you Jenna, right?" She asked before smiling at the older woman. "Or would you prefer mum?"
Jenna choked on the sip of wine she was taking at that moment, as she glared at the blonde. It didn't help matters at all that her children, her own flesh and blood, were laughing along with the girl. "I'd prefer it if you didn't." Jenna said through clenched teeth.
"Oh c'mon, Mum. She was only joking." Emily stated through her giggles, but she knew that they were going to have to hurry this along
Rob was still sitting there looking at Naomi, unable to comprehend what she had told him, as Jenna and the girls started snipping at each other.
Naomi glanced around the table and noticed a cheeky smile on Jamie's face as he watched. He turned to look at her.
"What?" He questioned the look in her eye.
"Is this normal?" She asked him, and he nodded.
"Actually, this is just the beginning." He stated before turning back as Jenna's voice got louder.
"All I'm saying, Emily, is that you shouldn't feel the need to make a scene just to justif-,"
"Make a scene?" Emily stood up, placed her hands on the table and leant closer to her mother. "So by living my life, being who I am, I'm making a "scene"?" She used her fingers to make air quotes, as she scoffed at her mum. "Jesus, when are you going to open up your eyes? I'm gay, Mum, not a serial killer!"
"I know that, Emily, you don't have to keep rubbing it in. It's totally unnecessary." Jenna said through clench teeth. "It's also not necessary for your...your partner to make up silly stories."
"Mum, she's not making anything up!" Katie stepped in, glaring at the Jenna, looking at her with the same disgusted look that Emily was giving their mother. "And do you think you could show a bit more contempt when you talk about Naomi? I'm not sure we're fully grasping how disgusted you are!"
'Ouch! That had to sting.' Naomi thought to herself, as the twins defended her. She knew she needed to say something, anything, really to stop this escalating into World War Three, but she didn't think blurting out the truth would work.
"Katherine! I've been nothing but polite since they've walked through that door! Is it my fault she doesn't have a decent job and feels the need to lie?" Jenna threw out at her oldest daughter, while Emily tried so hard to hold back the tears she had felt building up.
Emily sat back down, deflated, because she knew that she was never going to win against her mum. Jenna was so set in her ways, that nothing would ever change her.
Naomi reached over and wrapped her arms around her wife, feeling the red head's heart breaking and finding the courage to say something. But Naomi was just a bit scared of the elder Fitch, and needed a minute to think properly.
Katie and Jenna were still slinging words back and forth, when the older twin had had enough.
"Why do you have to know what she does for a living? Isn't it enough to know that she does have a job and can support Emily?" Katie glared at her mum, but then turned and looked at her dad. "No, you've gotta dig and pick, do anything you can to find her flaws! And Emily's flaws! Can't you just be happy that Emily's happy?"
"Well how do I know that, Katie? We haven't seen her in three months! And she brings this woman here, expecting us to take everything at face value? How are we supposed to adjust to that? And then to mock your father like that?" Jenna shouted, suddenly breathless at the outburst, finally turning her glare back to Naomi. "I'm mean, seriously, who are you? You showed up out of nowhere and say you're married to my daughter?"
"Jenna, if you'll calm down, I'll tell you anything you want to know, and you too, Rob." Naomi smiled over at the still shocked man. "Katie, have a seat, yeah?"
Jenna was about to protest, but after looking at the broken face of Emily, she sat down and placed her folded hands atop the table and looked expectantly at Naomi.
"Sir? I suspect you have questions, yes?"
Rob had sat silent throughout the entire shouting match between his wife and daughters, and gathered his thoughts. Yes, he had questions. "If what you say is true, how is that possible?"
"I'm going to start out by asking my own question and it may seem a bit odd, but I want you both to hear me out before you throw me out of the house, ok?" Naomi looked at Rob and Jenna, waiting for the agreement.
"Very well." Jenna said, stiffly.
"Do you believe in Santa Claus?" She asked the older Fitches, not missing the smirks on the twins' faces and the shock on Jamie's.
"Oh, that's just rid-,"
Jenna was cut off by Jamie. "You said you'd wait, mum."
Naomi sent him a smile of gratitude before continuing. "It's a serious question and there's a reason for it. I didn't believe in Santa, not since I was a young girl. Actually, I hated Christmas because that's when my father left me and my mum. That's why Cook, Freddie and me were out drinking that night."
"I don't understand." Rob said, shaking himself out of the confusion that had covered him for the last twenty minutes. "Explain to me how any of that is possible."
"Rob, be realistic!" Jenna couldn't believe he was even entertaining the idea.
"Jenna, I'm curious, so let her talk." He stated firmly, obviously something Jenna wasn't used to, as Naomi saw the look of shock on her face. "Go on, love."
Naomi spent the next ten minutes talking about about the night she became Santa, which wasn't easy with Jenna making disapproving noises the whole time. The real treat was watching Jenna's face, as Naomi came to whole point of the conversation.
"...and when I slipped on the coat...BAMB!" Naomi emphasised the last word by slapping her palm on the table, causing Jenna and Jamie to jump in their seats, but Rob stayed silent and still.
"Bullshit!" Jamie exclaimed, but deep down he felt her words were true.
"Do you think we're idiots?" Jenna asked, an iciness in her voice that would have scared a normal person. "How dare you sit there and treat us as if we're stupid! You've got a lot of nerve coming in here and try-,"
"When you were twelve, you wrote a letter to Santa," Naomi quickly cut her off, using her Santa powers, "asking for a Chatty Cathy doll. It's the only thing you wanted that year. You begged and begged your parents for one, and they told you to ask Santa for it, but you didn't get it." Naomi smiled at Emily as everyone stared at her, Jenna gasping loudly at what the blonde said. "The reason you didn't get it, was because you pushed your baby sister out of her crib because she got more attention than you did, which put you on the Naughty list that year."
Naomi was satisfied with the look of shock on Jenna's face as she turned to Jamie. "You wanted a Playstation 3, and for four years in a row you sent me a letter asking for one," she smirked at the young man sitting in front of her, "but spying on your sisters while they were showering," Naomi didn't miss the blush that spread quickly across his face as she went on, "put you on the Naughty list for five straight years! Cook was seriously impressed...you're the reigning Naughty Champ." She winked at Jamie before turning to Rob.
"And me? What do you know about me?" He asked quietly.
"I know lots. I know that you have never once been on the Naughty list. But I think what I remember best about you is what you said to me that night." Naomi smiled at him as his eyes widened. "You told me that it was okay to be angry. You said a lot of people lost sight of the true meaning of the holiday and that it was okay to hate it. You promised me that one day I'd find a reason to enjoy it again. And you were right."
Everyone sat still, barely breathing after Naomi's big reveal.
"Mum, say something?" Emily asked quietly, reaching back over to grasp Naomi's hand.
"How...who...told you about all that?" Jenna was just as quiet as her daughter, disbelief and something else that she couldn't identify warring inside of her.
"Well, ma'am, when I shook your hand I saw your past Christmas', and Jamie over there is quite the legend at the Pole, I've got every one of his letters framed...,"
"What?" Katie and Emily asked at the same time.
"How come you didn't say anything about that?" Emily asked, pouting.
Naomi smiled sheepishly at her. "I was more interested in getting you to marry me at the time, babes."
"Just so you know, when we get home, you're showing me everything in that damn closet." Emily muttered playfully, as Katie laughed at them both.
Jenna still didn't know what to believe and it must have shown on her face, because Naomi looked at her with kindness.
"You still can't grasp it can you?" The blonde asked Jenna.
"It's not something you hear everyday, is it?" Jenna seemed distressed by everything. "It's not easy to accept."
"No, I guess it's not." Naomi conceded.
"Let's just say I believe you, which I'm not saying I do...," Jenna trailed off, still trying to put everything into perspective.
"I could show you." Naomi said.
"What?" Three Fitches chorused in unison.
"Do you mean...?" Jamie was overly excited for some reason, as he glanced between his sisters and Naomi.
"Well, we did have to get married quite quickly," Naomi glanced at Jenna and Rob, offering a smile of apology, "and so...,"
"And just why was that, exactly?" Jenna asked, not with her usual fake curiosity, but with a genuine need to know.
The twins noticed the change in their mum's voice and were shocked by it, but Naomi merely smiled at her. "Apparently, there are rules when you're a Legendary Figure." She said, rolling her eyes. "See, I'm unique on a couple of levels."
Jenna narrowed her eyes at the blonde, thinking that either she was the most devious person she'd ever met or, oddly enough, the most fascinating, she really couldn't tell at this point. But, as she looked around the table at the rest of her family, she knew that she would have to at least make an effort. The relationship between her and Emily had deteriorated to barely there politeness since her daughter had come out to them, and Jenna hated that.
She hated having to tiptoe around her youngest daughter whenever certain subjects came up, and she hated the way everyone else in her family just "got" Emily, even Jenna's own mother accepted and understood her, but Jenna couldn't seem to. But right here, in front of her, was a chance to build a bridge over this huge divide of Jenna's own making.
So, Jenna made the decision to try, not just for her own sake, but for that of Emily as well. "What do you mean by "unique"?"
"First off, there's never been a human Santa Claus. Actually, there's never been a human Legendary Figure at all, so Cook, Freds and I are the first humans to fill the role." Naomi said with a smile.
"And the other level?" Rob and Jenna asked at the same time, making Naomi chuckle.
"She's the first woman to be Santa Claus." Emily stated proudly, smiling at Naomi.
"But what does that have to do with you two getting hitched?" Jamie asked, amazed by the whole situation. "And why so quickly?"
Naomi, Emily and Katie all took turns explaining about the Mrs Clause, how Emily and Naomi met at the club, the moment Naomi told Emily who she was and the countdown to Christmas Eve. Naomi even took the time to explain about meeting fifteen year-old Emily. Once they were done explaining everything, Naomi sat back and waited for any questions they rest of the Fitches might have.
After more than a few tense minutes where no one moved or spoke, Emily glanced at her mum, nervously. "Mum?" She questioned in a small voice, afraid.
Jenna glanced up and looked at her daughter, then shifted over to look at Naomi, looking for any sign that this was all made up. She didn't know what to say. Jenna had always thought of herself as a sensible woman, not one to give in to flights of fancy, but maybe that's been her problem all along. But she did have to admit that she had felt a odd sense of calm ever since Naomi and Emily arrived, no matter how much she tried to call into question Emily's lifestyle or the woman calling herself Emily's wife.
The longer Jenna stayed quiet, the more nervous Emily got and as she shifted in her seat, Naomi reached out and wrapped her arm around Emily's shoulders, giving her a gentle squeeze.
"Mrs Fitch, Jenna...," Naomi wanted to do whatever she could to ease the tension that was radiating from Emily, "please say something?"
"What you're asking me to believe is...is...," Jenna trailed off, still trying to wrap her mind around it all. "How did your family take this news?"
"Well, it was only me and my mum at the time, and I couldn't tell her what had happened, it was against the rules," Naomi started to explain, "so for a year she thought the worst."
"What does that mean?" Jamie asked, naively.
Naomi couldn't help the sad smile that crossed her face. "She thought I was dead." She looked back at Jenna, seeing a look of horror on the older woman's face, and continued talking. "She didn't know, and I didn't know how to let her know that I was okay, you see...I bucked against being Santa for that whole year. I almost didn't complete my first Christmas, I mean...Me? I didn't even believe in Christmas at all, and I was expected to care? I almost ruined it for everyone, until The Powers That Be made a decision and brought my mum to the Pole."
"Your poor mum." Jenna muttered, just the thought of not knowing where her children were sent a chill through her. Right then she made the decision to do her best to accept Emily's choices and this new person in their lives. "I don't know how I would've handled something like that." She replied quietly, looking sadly at Emily.
"You have Emily to thank for that, Jenna." Naomi stated proudly.
Jenna was surprised to hear that. "What do you mean?" She asked, throwing a quick glance at Rob, noticing that he too was thrown by that statement.
"It was part of Emily's wishes before we married. She said we had to tell you, because no matter what had gone on between you two, she wasn't about to let you think something had happened to her." Naomi explained while Emily sat next to her, blushing, as Jenna stared at her, tears filling her eyes.
"So, you're saying that you can prove all of this to us?" Rob asked, feeling the need to get past this so that they could all move on. "I think I'd like to see this."
Jamie whooped out a laugh, as Rob and Jenna shared a glance.
"How do you wanna do this?" Naomi asked with a smirk, causing Emily and Katie to giggle.
"What do you mean?" Jenna replied, suddenly curious.
"Well, I can show you what I mean by mental imagery, like what happened with Ems and Katie." Naomi took pleasure in seeing the faces of the three Fitches. It never failed to amaze her, the power of Santa Claus.
Over the years, that's what she discovered she liked best about being Santa Claus, the way she could invoke a feeling of peace and love. Sure most people thought of it just as delivering presents, but Naomi knew it was so much more than that. It was about making people see that there was more to life than things and possessions.
Naomi would never say it out loud, but she got a kick out of it when a child ended up on the Naughty List. As much as she loved making a child happy, she also loved when they learned a lesson, and nothing taught a kid quicker than not getting that special thing they asked for from Santa.
"Or, I could take you to the North Pole?"
The whole Fitch family exploded in excited chatter at Naomi's words, oddly enough, Rob seemed to be the most excited. It was decided that Naomi and Emily would take Rob, Jenna and Jamie, along with Katie, back to the pole.
"Naomi, how are you going to get us all to the pole?" Katie asked, an undertone in her voice that Naomi almost missed until Emily shot her a smirk.
"Well, I could take everyone one at a time?" Naomi suggested, trying her best to hold back a laugh. Katie rolled her eyes at the blonde, as Emily chuckled.
"Like that's very practical, Nai!" Katie scoffed, crossing her arms in front her, pouting.
Naomi couldn't hold in the laughter anymore. "What do you suggest then, Katie?" She asked through peals of laughter, knowing exactly what Katie wanted her to do.
A little birdie had told Naomi all about how Katie got along rather well with Cupid on Christmas Eve, and when she questioned Emily about it, they had a good laugh over it. So here they stood, with Katie rolling her eyes at Naomi and Emily as they snickered at her, trying hard to contain their laughing.
"You both suck, you know that, right?" Katie stated in annoyance. "Just call the others, Nai! It'll be quicker that way."
"Anyone special in mind, Katie?" Naomi was enjoying teasing the older twin. "Perhaps, the Cookiemonster, maybe?"
Katie turned a pretty shade of red. "Fuck off, Naomi!" She muttered back as Jenna and Rob finally started listening to their conversation.
"Katie!" Jenna gasped, as she heard the muttered words. "Language!"
Emily laughed again as she saw Katie turn even redder than before, but decided to save her sister from any further embarrassment. "Naoms, can you please call the others?"
"If you want, you can use the house phone, love." Rob informed her with a smile, as Jenna agreed along with him.
"Thanks, but that really won't be necessary." Naomi replied, causing Jenna and Rob to look confused.
"Oh, so you can call long distance with your mobile then?" Jenna asked.
"Not quite what I had in mind." Naomi replied enigmatically, as she stepped into the hallway, leaving the Fitch family standing in the dining room, three of them wondering what she was doing. "Effy? Can you gather the boys and JJ? I need some help?" Naomi called out into the empty hallway.
"Maybe she is insane?" Rob whispered into Jenna's ear, as they watched the blonde.
"Maybe, but she did know an awful lot about us, Rob. Not even my parents knew about me pushing Jules out of her crib. She even knew about Sylvia." Jenna said the name with disdain, causing Rob to chuckle before he leant down to give his wife a quick kiss on the cheek.
"You know you're the only one for me, love."
"Right answer." She replied looking up at him with a twinkle in her eye.
They looked back to where Naomi was still standing and watched as she nodded her head.
"Alright, I'll see you in a few minutes then. And Effy?" Naomi called out then paused shortly, before going on. "Thanks for doing this."
"Is everything alright, Naoms?" Emily called out, earning a smile from her wife.
"Yup, we're all set." Naomi informed everyone. "We just have to wait a few minutes, because Cook's somewhere in America, making people fall in love." She explained with a wink.
Jenna stood off to the side as James and Rob started asking questions of the three girls. She wanted to be right there with them, asking her own questions, but she still had her reservations. Emily could've told Naomi how important she thought the Christmas season was. It was one thing that Jenna's parents had instilled in their children. But Jenna got the impression that Emily didn't tell Naomi too much about her and Jenna realised that that hurt too much to think about.
So she sat and waited while Rob conversed with the girls and Jamie squealed like a twelve year old girl, until she felt an electrical tension running through the room. Before she could question the feeling, she heard voices from the hallway.
"Fucks sake, Cook!" A smooth male voice cried out.
"Sorry, mate! Didn't see where you was landing, did I?" Someone else said, the accent thick.
Jenna went to stand with Rob, suddenly afraid that they were being robbed, when she heard yet another voice reprimand the first two.
"Christ, don't you two ever get sick of snipping at each other?" This one was a woman.
"It's been proven time and time again Effy, that Freddie and Cook will always find ways of bickering over anything."
"Thank you, JJ, but that's not really helping."
"Sorry, Effy."
Emily and Katie giggled, and Jenna looked at them in shock.
"What's so funny?" She whispered, as her daughters smiled. "We could all be murdered and you're finding this amusing!"
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that, Jenna," Naomi replied calmly, looking at Rob and Jenna, "it would seem as if your lift to the North Pole has arrived."
"Naomi? Emily?" The woman from the hallway called out.
"In here, Effs!" Emily hollered back.
Effy, Cook and Freddie made their way into the kitchen, and smiled at Naomi.
"Hey, did somebody call for a ride?" Effy asked the room, smirking the entire time.
Naomi made the introductions, which took a while because Cook and Freddie were overly excited at seeing Rob, but she couldn't help but notice the look of disbelief on Jenna's face. It looked as if the woman was truly overwhelmed by what was going on and Naomi suddenly felt the need to make her feel as comfortable as possible.
"Mrs Fitch?" Naomi stepped toward her softly. "Are you ready?"
"You're serious?" Jenna asked in disbelief. "I mean, this is really real?"
"Yes, although, you really have to see it to believe it." Naomi said with a smile. "Alright, Legendary Figures, grab a human and lets go."
Naomi explained how traveling to the Pole would work, and she smiled when Jamie started drooling, claiming that he be Effy's passenger. "Effy, could you please escort Mr Fitch, Cook, you take the lovely Katie,"
Cook grinned and wrapped an arm around the older twins waist. "Alright, Katiekins! Are you ready to pick up where we left off?" he asked with a wink, making Katie blush.
"Calm down, Cook," Naomi told him with a chuckle, before turning to Freddie, "you are in charge of Jamie, Freds. And JJ, if you would be so kind as to escort my beautiful wife, I'd greatly appreciate it."
"What about me?" Jenna asked in a small voice, sounding extremely hurt, as if she were afraid that her actions towards Emily over the years would stop her from being allowed to go.
Naomi felt her heart shift as she watched her mother-in-law shift from foot to foot. "Well, Jenna...I know you don't know me very well and you probably don't like me much, but I thought it'd be nice if I took you." She explained with a smile. "Would that be alright?"
Emily watched as her mother nodded and smiled at Naomi. 'Maybe she'll finally accept me, accept us.' She thought to herself, as JJ wrapped an arm around her waist.
"Alright everyone, to the Pole." Cook called out, as group by group, they all started vanishing into thin air until it was only Naomi, Jenna, Emily and JJ left.
"Oh, dear!" Jenna exclaimed, shocked and excited all at once. "Is this safe?" She asked nervously, looking from Emily back to Naomi.
"Well, Mrs Fitch, according to studies on modes of transportation, 96% of mortals find flying to be the safest, followed by vehicular travel, at 85%. Although, since we're using a mode of transport not known to mortals, those studies are quite irrelevant and-,"
"JJ! You're getting locked on again, mate." Naomi reached out and placed a soothing hand on JJ's shoulder to calm him down, but then she turned to Jenna. "Trust me, it'll be over before you know it."
"It'll be fine, Mum." Emily said with a giggle as JJ blushed when Emily leant over to kiss Naomi. "Let's go, Jay."
In the blink of an eye they were gone, leaving Naomi and Jenna standing alone in the Fitch family home.
"Ready?" Naomi asked her, as she reached out her hand.
Jenna placed her hand in Naomi's tentatively, still nervous, but when she looked up she saw a smile on Naomi's face and suddenly felt a calm settle around her. "I'm ready."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt a sudden rush of wind around as Naomi gripped her hand firmly, and they were gone from her home.
"Jenna! You've got to see this, love."
Rob's voice echoed excitedly throughout the Great Hall, where Emily and the rest of her family were waiting for them.
Jenna stood there trying to get her bearings, feeling a tad bit dizzy from the trip.
"Give yourself a minute, Jenna. It happens to first time travellers." Naomi said gently with a smile. "Would you like a glass of water?"
"Thank you, that would be lovely." As soon as she replied, an elf stepped over and handed her a glass, startling Jenna. "Oh...um...yes...t-thank you." She stammered as she took the water and drank, a mixture of awe and shock racing through her.
"It's my pleasure, ma'am." He said with a smile and the quickly hurried off.
"So, Mum...what do you think?" Katie asked as Jenna finally took a moment to look around.
Even though it was a few months after Christmas, everything here exuded an air of the season. Peace, hope and tranquillity, just to name a few. It really allowed Jenna to feel at complete peace for the first time in a long time.
"It's lovely...," Jenna said, quietly, then cleared her throat and looked at Naomi and Emily with a smile, "it's a lovely place."
"Alright, guys." Naomi called out, getting everyone's attention. "Who wants a tour of the North Pole?" She smiled as Jamie, once again, squealed like a schoolgirl and started bouncing around. "Let's do this then. Thalmus, can we get everyone some heavy coats please?" She asked, led the whole Fitch family on a personal tour.
They went through the manufacturing floor and met the elves, Naomi and JJ explaining every detail of the Christmas toy making process. Naomi then introduced the Legendary Figures properly, took them around showing them each department and explaining what everyone did there, until then finally Gina came out from wherever she had been, as Naomi led everyone to the town centre in front of the Great Hall.
"Naomi, love? You're back early." Gina smiled at her and Emily. "How was the honeymoon? Is everything alright? Everything work out in the bedroom area?" She asked with a wink and a smile as Naomi blushed and Emily ducked her head.
Naomi rolled her eyes. Leave it to Gina to be inappropriate. "Mum!"
"What? I'm only asking, love."
"Well, how about you remember your manners and greet our guests." Naomi told her indicating to where Jenna and Rob were standing.
Gina blushed deeply, which shocked the shit out of Naomi, as she rushed forward. "Where are my manners, how terribly rude of me," she admonished herself holding out her hand, "so sorry about that, but I get a huge kick out of winding Naomi up."
"Mum!" Naomi said through gritted teeth. "Let me introduce Rob and Jenna Fitch...my in-laws."
"Oh, how lovely!" Gina exclaimed happily, giving them both a hug instead of a handshake. "It's such a please having you here. I wish you could've been here for the wedding, but with time running out like it was, there just wasn't any time." She told them, apologetically.
"Yes, the girls told us." Jenna replied, suddenly feeling terrible that she hadn't been here to see it. "I'm sorry that we weren't here."
Gina decided to break the tension that suddenly filled the air, thinking of anything that would wipe the identical sad looks off Jenna and Emily's faces. "Who wants a cup of tea? I've got a nice herbal blend that Kieran brought back from China just the other day and I've been dying to try it." Jenna smiled gratefully and followed Gina, leaving Naomi and Emily behind with the everyone else. "Naomi, love...what don't you take Rob to meet Kieran? He's somewhere around here." Gina called over her shoulder as she ushered Jenna into her house.
Naomi groaned and rolled her eyes, but turned to her father-in-law. "I suppose I'd better do as she says...she's pretty tight with the elves around here and she'll have them rioting in the streets if I didn't listen." Rob laughed along with Naomi and Emily, as he followed them across the town centre.
"Well, Katiekins," Cook grinned at the older twin, reaching out his hand for her to take, "ready to get reacquainted?" He wiggled his eyebrows at her, making her blush and laugh.
Katie rolled her eyes at him. "As long as I don't have to hear the story about the tattoo you used to have again." She said as she took his hand and he led her to his rooms.
Kieran and Rob hit it off right away, oddly enough, which surprised Naomi yet again, and Kieran scooted her and Emily out the door.
"Why can't we hang around?" Naomi asked, pouting like a five year old.
"Because, as much as I love you, stepdaughter of mine," he said and smiled as Naomi squirmed, "sometimes men need to hang out with other men! Now go!"
"C'mon, Naoms." Emily said as she pulled Naomi out by their linked hands. "Maybe we can have a few minutes alone."
Naomi smiled as she let Emily lead her somewhere more private, where they were able to spend some time alone. But all too soon, it was time for dinner, so they walked hand in hand to where dinner would be served. The elves had gone to work and arranged tables in the Great Hall, with a long table set in front for Naomi and Emily's family could sit along with the rest of the Legendary Figures.
Emily smiled when she saw her mum and dad sitting next to Gina and Kieran, both of them smiling and she felt a sense of peace for the first time once coming out to her parents.
Naomi watched as tears sprang into her wife's eyes and knew the reason for it. "See, babes? I told you it would be alright."
"I wouldn't be so sure of yourself, babe," Emily brushed away the tears that started to fall, "but I can say that I haven't seen Mum smile like that in a long time, so thank you." She reached up and gave Naomi a small kiss.
"You're welcome, Ems."
Just then, Jenna caught Naomi's eye and her smile grew larger, as she scooted away from the table and made her way over to them.
"Hello, girls."
"Jenna." Naomi greeted her, noticing a difference within the woman as she stood in front of them, wringing her hands together, nervously. "Everything alright?"
"Oh, yes. It's absolutely wonderful here." Jenna stated quickly. "Your mother is very lovely, Naomi."
Naomi was touched by Jenna's words. "Thank you, ma'am. Usually, she's a bit full on and hard to handle." She said with a smirk and Emily and Jenna laughed.
"Naoms! That's your mum!" Emily admonished, but couldn't stop the giggles.
"I'm well aware of that, Ems," Naomi's smirk grew wider and her eyes twinkled the longer she looked at her wife, "so I'm more than able to say that my mum is a handful!"
"Well, she definitely loves you, Naomi. And Emily, as well." Jenna stated with a smile. "Look, I had a nice chat with Gina and she pointed out a few hard truths. Emily, I know I haven't been the best mother to you, especially since you told us that you were...gay, and for that I know that I have no right to ask for your forgiveness."
Emily was shocked and it showed as she stood there opened mouthed. Naomi glanced from Jenna to Emily, noticing the look and prodded her wife with an elbow to her side.
"Ems? Say something." Naomi whispered in her ear, nodding toward her mother-in-law.
That woke Emily up as her mouth closed and opened a few times, trying to find something to say. Since she was a teenager she had dreamt of this, dreamt of her mum accepting her and now, just maybe, it seemed as if she was about to have that dream come true.
"It's alright, Naomi." Even though it was said with a smile, Naomi could see the hint of sadness in Jenna's eyes. "I get that it may be too late, Emily, but I am sorry...for everything. I didn't understand, you see? I didn't want you to be different and I thought you being gay made you different. I didn't know how to accept that you were still my same Emily. And even though you liked girls, it wasn't you that was different, it was...me."
"I'm not gonna lie, Mum...you've made my life hell since I was a kid." Emily said softly.
"I know I have, Emily." Jenna bowed her head in shame.
"And I'm not really sure what you're asking for here." Emily told her, wanting to be as open as possible, but years of sadness and anger were hard to let go of.
Jenna's head snapped back up and she looked Emily in the eye, for probably the first time since she came out. "I'm not really sure I have the right to ask for anything, but if I could...," Jenna told her, "I'd probably ask for a chance. One chance to at least make it right."
Naomi watched Emily and notice a rush of emotions in her eyes, but she knew that this chance that Jenna was asking for was all up to Emily, so she stayed silent.
Emily gave her mother's request some thought and if this had been four months ago, then the answer would have definitely been a resounding no, but this was now and things were different, she was different and maybe, just maybe her mum was different.
"It don't think it's going to happen over night, Mum," Emily replied after thinking it over and she watched a frown form on Jenna's face before continuing, "but...I'm willing to try if you are."
Naomi smiled as Jenna gasped in relief before tears fell and she grabbed a hold of Emily into a fierce hug. Rob and Gina had also been watching the exchange from their spots at the table and Naomi noticed that Rob was crying a bit as well.
"Thank you, Emily." Jenna said as she pulled out of the hug. "And can I just say how beautiful the two of you are together?" And she meant it. Jenna had been watching the two of them every since they showed up at the house, and you could tell how deeply they loved each other.
Naomi blushed at the compliment, as Emily smiled. "How about we sit down to dinner? I'm sure Lara and JJ are anxious to get started." She ushered mum and daughter to the table and they all took their seats.
Dinner started and everyone fell into comfortable conversations around the tables. Freds, Cook and Rob took the time to catch up since they last saw each other, Jenna and Gina continued their talk from earlier as they kept a watchful eye on their children, Jamie did his best to flirt with Effy, which she took with a smile and a mysterious gaze, whilst Naomi and Emily watched it all.
When everyone was just about finished, Emily leant over and gave Naomi a kiss. She tried to put all her love into that kiss, trying to convey everything she felt into that one small meeting of lips. What Emily forgot was that Naomi knew exactly what she was feeling, kiss or not, but you'd never hear Naomi complain about the effort.
"Whoa!" Naomi said breathlessly as she pulled away to see Emily smiling. "Not that I'd ever say no to your kisses, but what was that for?"
"Because I realised that I don't know how to thank you properly." Emily grinned at her wife, as she looked confused for a moment. "Since I met you, my life has been better. You've given me everything I never knew I wanted and you've given me my Mum back. I love you, Naoms."
Naomi felt a lump form in her throat as her heart started beating super fast, like it always did when Emily said she loved her. "Aw, babes...," Naomi cooed and leant in to give her a quick kiss, "you deserve it, because I love you too."
Emily sat back in her chair, lacing her fingers with Naomi's as they looked out on everyone in the Great Hall, smiling as everyone laughed and talked and had fun. She saw Katie lean over as Cook whispered something in her ear, and she blushed deeply as Cook grinned.
"Whatdya reckon, Ems? Do we see another wedding in the Fitch family's future?" Naomi asked quietly, seeing the same thing Emily had seen.
"Well, that depends on if Cook can take my sister's wild ways," Emily replied, raising her eyebrows before smirking at Naomi, "but I'd have to yes."
Naomi and Emily laughed at the thought, until Rob's voice broke through their bubble.
"So, Naomi? When can Jenna and I expect some grandkids?" Rob asked with a wide, toothy grin.
The whole hall broke out in laughter as Naomi's eyes widened and Emily blushed, but then the thought of a little Emily running around made Naomi smile. It actually was comforting thought, as Naomi pictured her future with Emily.
"Who knows, Rob. This time next year we could be celebrating a birthday, yeah?"
Naomi knew it was the right thing to say when Emily grabbed a hold of her and pulled her in for a kiss.
'Yup! Definitely next year.' Naomi thought to herself as she deepened the kiss and couldn't even be embarrassed about the display of affection in front of everyone, as they continued to have a good around them.
A/N: Alright, ladies and gentlemen...There is a short epilogue on the way and I promise it will not take a year...
Also, expect an update to CN in the next day or two, and I'm hoping to have updates for TBWITB and YBHMHAA in the next week.
So for now, I want to wish you all a very Merry, Happy and Festive (insert holiday of your choice here) !
Love ya,
Marci :-)